Cobb County scrambles to mail thousands of absentee ballots amid surge in applications

COBB COUNTY, GA. – Election officials in Cobb County are scrambling to make sure everyone who wants to vote has the opportunity to do so. The Cobb County Board of Elections is now sending out thousands of absentee ballots.

Election officials say they’ve had an increase in last-minute requests for absentee ballots. Over the past week, an average of 750 absentee ballot requests have come in, with nearly 1,000 on Friday, the last day to request an absentee ballot. Now, election officials are in a race against time to get absentee ballots to voters who requested them.

“It’s an indication of the historic nature of this election and the interest in this election,” Cobb County Board of Elections Chairman Tori Silas said.

Silas says with the increase in last-minute requests for absentee ballots, they didn’t have the equipment to process the ballots quickly.

As of Wednesday, there were 3,000 ballots that had not yet been mailed. They are now working with the US Post Office and UPS to get these ballots delivered as soon as possible.

“We overnight everything, and in that overnight package is a prepaid overnight envelope included so they can express their ballot to us after they’ve filled it out,” Silas said.

It is an additional expense, but Cobb County has given permission to do whatever is necessary to get these ballots to voters.

They also try to personally contact every voter who requested an absentee ballot.

“We will be communicating with these affected voters via email. We will also contact by phone,” said Silas.

“They’re a really important election,” said Kathy Reeves, who cast her vote Thursday.

Reeves’ son requested an absentee ballot.

“He wanted to vote absentee because he goes to school in another town, but he didn’t get it, so he came home to vote,” Reeves said.

For some, it might not be so easy, and voter Dawn Stewart worries there isn’t enough time.

“The fifth is the actual day, which is Tuesday. They have to work very hard and very fast,” Stewart said.

Silas says they will be working around the clock to make sure every absentee ballot is delivered, returned and counted.

“I hope no one falls through the cracks given the plan we have in place. That’s my hope. That’s my prayer,” Silas said.

There will also be extended hours for absentee ballots to be dropped off in person at the election office this weekend.

Voters can return their ballots at 995 Roswell Street, Marietta between 8:00am and 8:00pm Saturday, 10:00am and 8:00pm Sunday and 8:00am and 8:00pm Monday. Anyone with questions about applying for an absentee ballot can contact the Cobb Elections Department at 770-528-2581.